Swab for the removal of fingernail polish



J. P. Lu'scRl l2,442,051

SWAB FOR THE REMOVAL OF FINGERNAIL POLISH May 25, 1948.

Filed. oct. 18, 19'45 `INVENTOR. JOSEPH P TE?? USCP/A BY I Patented May 25, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT ,A oFFlcE SWA FQR THE BEMGVAL OF FINGER? Nm POLISH .This invention relates broadly to mancuring instruments and more specifically to a solvent applicator or swab for the removal of fingernail laGquer or so-called nail polish,

In the removal of nail polish it has been the practice heretofore to saturate small tufts of absorbent cotton or similar materials with a lacquer solvent, to grip such material between the thumb and forefinger and then sponge or swab the fingernail until the colored lacquer was completely dissolved and wiped from the nail. Obviously such procedure stained the fingers in which the tuft was held and in addition caused excessive smudging and smearing of other fingers of the operator since it was impossible to maintain tufts of such a character in any definite shape or form. The present invention contemplates an absorbent sponge or swab compressed in cylindrical form and mounted in a holder having a sleeve thereon which is designed to support the extended portion of the swab in sharply defined configuration and with suicient rigidity to resist the pressure imposed thereon when the swab is forced into the crevices around the edges of the nail and contiguous 'cuticla Further objects of the invention reside in the provision of an instrument which is attractive of appearance, economic of manufacture and susceptible of use in a manner which will eliminate smudging the fingers with dissolved lacquer after the cleaning operation has been performed.

Other objects and advantages more or less ancillary to the foregoing and the manner in which all of the various objects are realized will appear in the following description which, considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, sets forth the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through the improved swab and holder therefor;

Fig. 2 is a similar longitudinal section illustrating the swab supporting member in its retracted position and the appearance of the swab when mounted in the holder; and

Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the swab and holder, the section being taken on a plane indicated byline 3-3 in Fig. 1.

Referring first to Fig. l, the swab I Il is preferably formed of an absorbent material such as cotton which is compressed or otherwise formed in configuration of a cylinder and treated with a coating of lacquer or a similar substance to maintain the material in its molded form. The density of the swab is similar to the absorbent packing used by dentists as a buccal or labial sponge. An end portion of the swab is compressibly engaged within a tube II formed of paper or a similar product which is economic of manufacture. The tube I I is provided with a cup I2 disposed in telescopic relation with an end portion thereof and preferably cemented in place. This structure not only contributes to the appearance of the holder but in addition serves to reinforce the walls of the tube II. Intermediate the ends of the tube there is a second cup I3, similar in `configuration to the .cup I2 and mounted to delimit movement of' the swab inwardly under undue pressure upon the end thereof. The swab holder further embodies a sleeve Ill mounted for snug frictional engagement upon the tube I I and provided to support the portion of the swab that protrudes from the end of the tube I I. The portion of the swab within the sleeve I I is held under sufficient compression to arrest capillary attraction where the end of the swab is moistened.

In operation the sleeve I ll is rst retracted to the position illustrated in Fig. 2, to facilitate the entry of the cylindrical cotton body within the tube II. The swab is next compressively forced into the open end of the tube II and the sleeve I4 then moved outwardly until all but approximately one-eighth of an inch of the swab I!! is encased thereby. The operator then moistens the exposed end of the swab with the lacquer solvent, then rubs the coated fingernail until the lacquer is dissolved and fully absorbed by the swab. Thereafter the sleeve Ill may be retracted a distance equal to the dep-th of saturation of the solvent or termination of the discoloration of the cotton. The used end of the swab may then be sheared and discarded. Thereafter the sleeve may be further retracted to present a new section of the swab for use upon the next-finger to be treated.

It will be readily recognized that the sleeve I4 will hold the swab in definite shape with sharp definition of the marginal edges thereof and thus facilitate manipulation of the applicator in a manner similar to that employed in handling a pencil. The instrument will also eliminate discoloration of the fingers within which the cleaning material is held and afford substantial savings in time and in the use thereof.

Although the foregoing description is necessarily oi a detailed character in order that the invention may be completely set forth, it is to be understood that the specific terminology is not intended to -be restrictive or confining and that various rearrangements of parts and modications of detail may be resorted to without depart- I claim:

1. An instrument for the removal of ngernail polish comprising an absorbent cotton swab compressed into a relatively hard body of cylindrical form, a paper tube frictionally engaged with one Y end thereof, a paper cup affixed in said tube intermediate the ends thereof to delimit inward Vmove--v ing from the scope or spirit of the invention as herein claimed.

tube and an open ended tube telescopically mounted on the rst-named tube and frictionally 'f' engaged therewith and with the swab wh'ereby` the portion of the swab that protrudes from, the

iirst-named tube may be supported against lateral deflection and circumferential deformation during the use of the swab. v

2. An instrument for the' removal of fingernail polish comprising an absorbent cotton swab compressed nto a relatively hard body of cylindrical form, a paper tube frictionally engaged with one end thereof, astop affixed in said tube intermediate the ends thereof to limit inward movement of said swab to a minorportion of the length of 10 ment of said swab and support the side wall of the Y e 4 the'swab, and an open mounted on the rst-namedtube and frictionally engaged therewith and with the swab whereby the portion of the swab that protrudes from the first-named tube may be supported against lat-1 eral deflection and'circumferential deformation during the use of the swab.

Y y JOSEPH P. LSCRI.

REFERENCES CITED Thefollowing references are of record inthe Y Vidle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS ended tube telescopically 

